As always when Alex’s name came up it was quickly dispatched. ‘Right, that’s enough about that stupid blighter. Now I think we deserve a glass of wine, don’t you? It’s almost Christmas, after all. Back in a moment.’
Cathie smiled as he walked away, thinking how strong and fit he looked now, not at all the thin weedy man he’d been when first he came back from the war. And he was so much happier, as was she. How lucky they were to have found each other. Closing her eyes, she conjured up an image of Steve holding her in his arms as he proposed to her.
‘You are no longer alone, my love,’ a voice whispered in her ear. ‘I’m here for you, at last.’ Cathie eyes flew open in startled disbelief.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
‘Alex!’ Cathie could feel shock reverberating through her as she met the coldness of his expression. His mouth was twisted into a caustic smirk of triumph, while his narrowed eyes glinted with lust.
‘You look lovely,’ he said and, taking her arm, he began to lead her towards the door. His grip was unyielding, but, gathering her strength, Cathie made a valiant attempt to break his hold. Struggling to shake her arm free, she slapped and pushed him, even made an attempt to stamp on his foot, but he soon put a stop to that. ‘I’ve already collected the little brat from Rona, so if you wish to ever see her again I would advise that you don’t make any more fuss.’
A trembling weakness now replaced that brief flash of defiance. ‘Where is she? What have you done with little Heather?’ Cathie tried to turn and look behind her, desperate for a glimpse of Steve, but, grasping her by the shoulders, Alex shoved her around and propelled her out the door. Once outside, his grip on her tightened even further as he marched her rapidly along a path.
‘Don’t worry, the child is perfectly safe. For now. And will remain so if you do as you’re told.’
‘I hope to God she is. If you hurt her, I’ll kill you!’ she hissed, which for some reason made him chuckle.
‘I’d like to see you try.’
‘And where’s Mam?’
‘Why would you care? You and Rona never did get on very well.’
‘We’ve had our problems but we get along fine these days. Is she with Heather?’
‘Stop fretting about those two and start thinking of us. You and I need to talk. We belong together, and since you wouldn’t come to me, I have come to you.’
Cathie suddenly realised that they were heading for the canal and fear escalated within her. ‘Stop this at once,’ she yelled, again frantically attempting to free herself from his punishing grip. ‘I’m fully aware of what you did to Davina, and that you should be charged with her murder.’
He roared with laughter, as if she’d made some sort of joke. ‘That’s what the police seem to think.’ And, pulling her into his arms so that his mouth was close enough for her to smell the whisky he’d been drinking, he sneered at her. ‘Sadly for them, they can’t quite find sufficient evidence to make such a charge stick, or even arrest me. Now stop fussing, girl.’
‘They do indeed have evidence,’ Cathie protested. ‘A friend of Davina’s was witness to what you did, so don’t for a moment think you’ll get away with it.’
‘Who is she?’ he barked.
‘None of your business, but she’s genuine.’ Not for a moment would she reveal how Steve had found Barbara, let alone give the girl’s name, which could be dangerous. Striving to remain calm and keep her wits about her, she said, ‘I happen to know a great deal more than you might think. Such as your theft of that ring.’
He jerked, releasing his hold upon her. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’
Relieved to be free of him, Cathie flicked back her hair, which had come unpinned in the tussle, and smoothed down her beautiful new dress. ‘You know full well. You didn’t buy that engagement ring; you stole it from a shop close to Oldham Street. I found out quite by chance and sadly the person concerned was not prepared to bring charges because he feared involving me. But he certainly will once I have told him what you are doing to me now, and whatever you’ve done to poor little Heather. The police too will be very interested as they are already looking to question you again. They might also ask about your black market activities.’
‘Huh, me and the rest of the nation,’ he laughed.
‘Involving yourself in the black market is still illegal and punishable with time in jail.’
‘You’ve no proof of that either. In any case, how would you know what I’ve been up to?’
‘Because I’m no fool, Alex, even if you take me for one. I saw all those unknown coupons when little Heather was playing with your gas mask pack that time. And I’m quite convinced that the silver cigarette lighters you gave to Mam and Davina were stolen too. Where would you get the money to buy them otherwise? You never did find yourself a proper job, so far as I’m aware. You’re far too lazy and self-obsessed to work for anyone other than yourself. I doubt you’ve ever done an honest day’s work in your life. So if the police wish to question me, there’s a great deal I can tell them.’
He slapped her face, so hard that she fell to the ground, sprawled on the towpath. ‘You’ll say nothing.’
‘I certainly will!’ Cathie shouted, despite the ringing in her head from the blow. ‘You can’t be allowed to get away with this. Tell me what you’ve done with my lovely little niece.’
‘None of your bloody business! You do as I say because you belong to me.’
Staggering back on her feet to face him with every ounce of courage she possessed, Cathie yelled at him. ‘No, I don’t! I hate you, Alex Ryman. Nothing would ever make me wish to return to you. Not ever!’
‘Then I can at least enjoy your body,’ he said, and, pushing her up against the wall, his hand reached down to tug up the long skirt of her evening gown. ‘I’ve waited a long time for this,’ he said, as his hands roamed over her. Then he was devouring her with a kiss, forcing his tongue into her mouth. As she fought to free herself, Cathie felt as if she was about to throw up. Within seconds, his fingers were fumbling with her underwear, as he’d used to do in the past. She could remember not particularly enjoying his lovemaking once she’d learned of his betrayal and he’d moved into her home, but this was even worse. Bringing up her knee, she drove it into the most tender part of him. Letting out a yell, he swept her up in his arms and threw her into the canal.
Cathie found herself sinking fast into the muddy water, as if she was falling down into a giant basin rather like the one at Potato Wharf. Weeds tangled about her legs, cans of rubbish and dead rodents battered against her helpless body. She could taste oil and filth, and, knowing she couldn’t swim, her head buzzed with terror. Was this how poor Davina had died? It was then that all Brenda’s careful lessons from their weekly attendance at the Corporation Baths on New Quay Street finally kicked in, and it came to her that she could indeed swim.
Forcing her legs and arms into action she began to move slowly upwards. Her lungs felt as if they were bursting as she manoeuvred her way through the blackness in what she hoped was the right direction towards the towpath. The minute her hands touched the earth of the bank she lifted her head gently out of the water to snatch some air. A dark silhouette hovered above, just a few feet away. Realising Alex was looking for her, Cathie grabbed hold of a clump of weeds to keep herself low in the water, out of his sight.
‘Where are you, sweetie?’ he called. ‘Oh dear, are you in trouble?’
She edged closer, moving slowly so that she made no ripples in the water. Once she was beneath him, Cathie shot up a hand and grabbed his ankle. Just then she heard a whistle. Could it be the police? But it was too late as she’d already yanked at his leg, watching with pleasure as he fell, feet first, into the canal, yelling with fury.
‘You were so very brave,’ Steve said, pulling her into his arms as he wrapped a blanket around her soaking body. ‘And don’t worry, Heather is perfectly safe. Rona took great care of the little one. He locked them both in his shed on the allotment, tying your m
other up with garden twine. Fortunately, she managed to break herself free and hammered on the window until someone heard and let them out, then rang the local police station. The police tell me that the pair of them are back at the flat, and just fine. Thank God you are too. I love you so much. What would I do without you? Please say you’ll marry me.’
Happiness soared through her at these words. ‘Oh, yes, I will. I love you too, Steve. But how did you find me?’
‘I wish I could have got here sooner, but I was queuing for drinks and unaware of what had happened. By the time I returned, I was a little concerned when I realised you’d disappeared, hoping at first that you’d just gone to the powder room. But a few questions among folk who saw you leaving with Ryman sent me into a complete state of panic. Remembering what had happened to Davina, I feared he might do the same to you. Fortunately, there were already police on the premises, as there generally is on busy nights like this, so I quickly called them into action. Amazingly, you seem to have coped pretty well on your own. Well done, love.’
Steve kissed her, and her heart sang. Then, holding her close in his arms, they watched in silence as the police clicked handcuffs on to Alex’s wrists and led him away, leaving a trail of mud in his wake.
‘What will happen to him now?’
‘He’ll be charged with assaulting you and, more importantly, with Davina’s murder as Barbara has revealed to them what she saw. He’ll no doubt be found guilty and hanged.’
Cathie shivered, feeling little satisfaction in this, yet relieved at last to be rid of him, and all the problems Alex Ryman had brought into her life.
Later, after a joyful reunion with little Heather and Rona, they sat by the fire in the flat. The police had driven Rona home, and the toddler was now fast asleep in her cot, no doubt exhausted by the night’s trauma, but very content to be safely back home with her mummy.
All seemed to be well with her world at last, Cathie thought, with relief and joy in her heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Snow was falling as her wedding day dawned, but so far as Cathie was concerned that only added to the glory of this special occasion. This was the day she would marry the man she truly loved, the man she’d probably loved all her life but hadn’t realised that fact until almost too late. Had she done so, she would have spared herself a great deal of anguish and trauma. But every cloud has a silver lining, as the saying goes, and even the snow felt magical.
She and Steve had enjoyed a most wonderful Christmas together, the best ever with little Heather and his stepson Jamie, and Brenda too. Cathie had hung a stocking at the bottom of Heather’s cot, which Father Christmas had filled with fruit and sweets, coloured pencils, a magic painting book, Little Grey Rabbit’s Christmas by Alison Uttley, and a pair of mittens knitted by Rona. The twenty-three-month sold had opened her gifts with great excitement the minute she woke at six in the morning.
A tall Christmas tree stood rather grandly in the front parlour adorned with all the much-loved decorations that she and Sal had once made. As always, Cathie had spent hours making paper chains, not only with Heather’s help, but Jamie’s too. He was a very lively little boy with a cheerful smile and brown spiky hair, and Cathie knew she would soon love him as her own.
Everyone had arrived to join in the fun at Rona’s house in good time for a Christmas dinner of goose with all the trimmings, this time without any risk of her mother giving it away. Christmas crackers were pulled and jokes read. They’d listened to carols being sung by the King’s College choir on the wireless, and played lots of games, including Snap, Ludo and Monopoly. It was a wonderful day filled with fun and laughter, love and friendship and the magic of Christmas. Neither Cathie nor Steve had much money to spend on the celebrations, but that wasn’t important. All that mattered was they were together as a family.
On Christmas Eve, they’d all gone to church, not only to celebrate the start of Christmas, but also to pray for Sally, for Jamie’s mummy, Brenda’s late husband, Davina, and all other friends, loved ones, and brave young men lost in the war. They would never be forgotten.
And now it was her wedding day.
For this most special occasion, Cathie had made herself a new gown, unable to bear the thought of wearing the one she’d stitched for the wedding with Alex. Thank goodness she’d insisted on postponing that day, despite Alex’s efforts to bring it forward.
Now, as she stood at Steve’s side happily answering ‘I will’ to the questions asked by the vicar, happiness engulfed her. Little Heather stood patiently holding her train, no doubt the youngest bridesmaid ever. Jamie was acting as page boy, and Brenda taking the roll of matron-of-honour. It was the most perfect day of her life. Smiling into Steve’s blue-grey eyes shimmering with happiness, Cathie knew that he loved her as much as she loved him. They would soon be moving into a house he’d found for them to rent and begin to build a new life together. How wonderful was that?
‘Home is most definitely where the heart is,’ he told her, giving her a kiss as the vicar pronounced them man and wife.
ISBN: 978-1-474-03810-2
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
© 2015 Freda Lightfoot
Published in Great Britain 2015
by Harlequin MIRA, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,
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